Does anyone cut most of their logs to a different length than 16"? Why, or why not?

I end up cutting many of my stacks to 18" lengths. I feel like I'm getting more bang for the buck for storing especially if it's for a single stack a little less handling of the wood for about 10% more volume. My woodstove can handle quite a bit more than that so no issues there. My splitter can handle 22.5" so even cuts that went a little off are no issue. Is there any reason that I shouldn't be stacking 16" and having faster seasoning, or going to 20" for some of my wood?

 

I like 18” because they fit my stove East/West with room to spare, but I also like 12 because they fit well North/South. I can cram a 20 1/2 split in if I really need to but I’d rather not. 16” are nice for ease in calculating how much you have. I’m not convinced a 16” piece seasons significantly faster than an 18” though.

 

My stove takes up to 18" splits, but I cut to 16" because I like to talk cords. 3x16=48. 3 8ft racks of 16" splits is a cord.

It just works for me and my simple mind.

 

Good question!
I have my reasoning about why I cut what I cut but would like to see what others think.
I don’t think about the cure time, but it’s a valid thing to consider. A cookie will be ready in a couple hot afternoons.
My woodshed is 8’ deep. At 18” length I can fit 5 rows, which I do, and have enough room left over to put a beer down.
My stove will accept an 18”.
So I measure 18” off my bar, quickly, and let the kerf provide the mercy.

 

I cut 18-20 depending on the size log I’m cutting and how my eye measurer is working.
I started using a mungo some to measure 18” after seeing all the perfect and neat stacks on here, but sometimes I still let saw run free and see what happens.

 

I can fit 22" E-W and 18" N-S but i cut all my wood to 16" because my 5' 4" skids will fit 4 rows and looks tidy.

 

I have a OWB and takes a lot of wood to fill it, so I cut 20" to 24"

 

I have a big indoor wood furnace. I think it takes up to 28 inch in length. I strive for 18-22 but up to 12 inches in diameter. The pieces get heavy, but the big pieces lasts a long time!

 

For myself & my partner with outdoor boilers we cut at 24" My splitter will take 30" so no issue there. Customer & campfire wood is all 16". I'll vary split size a bit for a couple customers based on preference. My splits are as big as I can handle.

 

I cut 20-22” because the furnace is about 24. I don’t like how 16” stuff stacks so I try and avoid cutting that short

 

I cut anywhere from 16 to 22 ish with allowances for 14 and 24-30.

Pretty precise here for my OWB. But, I can't go too large as I am the one that has to lift them when it is -40 and slippery in the ice/snow.

Inside stove wood is 16.

(My body is giving up)

 

I used to cut by eye to what looked about right, then I met you people. After seeing all the pictures of nice neat stacks I started measuring and trying to cut to 16” ( with variable success). Then sometime after that I realized that there was a lot of unfilled space in my stove loading east/west so now I try for 18” (still with varied results)! This seems to be working ok, but I think 20”s would probably fit pretty well too, and perhaps get me a little bit longer burns. I might have to try that when I start another rack/stack

 

I was the same, I never measured, just eyeballed, then I got on here and have been trying to cut more consistent sizes, I measure most cuts with my bar now and stacks look nicer.

 

I cut 18". My stove will take 22" E/W so this makes a few more btus for an overnight load with room to spare.

 

I refuse to measure. The only way I have ever cut firewood is by "eyeballing" it. Yeah, my stacks are not in the running for prettiest pile (hmmm....new thread topic??) but they keep us just as warm as any of those precise piles that were shot with a transit!

Maybe that's why my requests for the FHC corporate jet and helicopter always go denied.

Next thing you know, FHC will expect me to turn in all those monies I've been collecting for membership dues year after year!

 

I process to 20" for a number of reasons:

*Stove is large...will take around a 26" length piece

*Less loading of stove

*Bigger splits tend to last longer in the stove

*Stacks are more stable with longer splits

*Less stacking with longer splits

*Less splitting with longer splits

*Less bucking with longer splits

As for calculating cordages, multiplying the length x depth x height isn't any more difficult with different length splits. If even numbers are preferred make it come out to an even number. Two rows of 24" is still 4 feet like three rows of 16" is. Three rows of 20" is 5 feet, etc.

 

Ive cut 16" for years. I cut and mark logs 99% of the time. If i started cutting 18" i wouldnt be able to sleep at night! 16" is 1/3 of a cord stack so easy to figure cordage when racking and stacking. My customers like the length too.
The insert in my old house could take up to 18" loaded N/S but 16" worked better

 

"UGLY STACK PICS" thread???